What should I expect when I walk into the Daycare?

Usually, when you first walk into the daycare a chorus of barking will greet you! As an open concept daycare, you will be able to see all the way from the front door to the back of the play space! This allows you watch the dogs at play but it also means that the dogs can also see you. And they all want to let us know that you are here and they really want to say hi. After a few minutes the dogs will settle down and return to their games.​

What will my dog do at daycare?

Our daily schedule is something like this, at whatever time you drop off your dog, we will take them out for a quick potty break – the excitement of getting here usually means they need it!9:30 - 11:00 AM: All the dogs out for group walks (maximum of 3 dogs per person)12:00 PM: A quick potty break1:30 - 3:00 PM: Another set of walksWhen they’re not out for potty breaks or walks, your dog will spend the day playing with toys and both human and canine friends, relaxing on beds and getting cuddles from staff.

What vaccines does my dog need?

Your dog must have their rabies vaccine, depending on your vet these are valid for 1, 2 or 3 years. To ensure a safe and healthy environment for your dog we also require vaccines for Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Hepatitis (Adenovirus type 2) and Distemper.These are standard vaccines that are given to all puppies and then throughout the dogs life as boosters. They will appear on you receipt as DHPP or DA2PP. We also recommend that your pet has the Bordetella vaccine (kennel cough) with boosters every 6 months.

What can I expect when my dog comes home?

You can expect a very tired pup! When you pick up your dog we will tell you about their day. They will often go home tired. It is not uncommon for dogs to be thirstier or hungrier than normal after daycare. You should limit how much food and water they have until they have been resting for at least 30 minutes to make sure their body is relaxed enough to keep the food/water down. It is also very normal for dogs who play extra hard to go straight to bed and sleep until the next day. Daycare is great if you have evening plans and you won’t have time to go on a walk!

Can my dog get hurt?

While we do our absolute best to ensure that each dog has a safe and fun day, there is a lot of running around and accidents can happen. If a dog is injured, we will assess the injury and determine the best course of action. It may be just a simple sprain which only needs a bit of rest or it may be a scratch from baby teeth that needs a bit of disinfectant to heal. We will always tell you if we believe your dog has been injured and will call you if your dog looks uncomfortable in any way.

Will you feed or give medications to my dog?

Yes, we will give your dog any meals you provide for him/her. We have our own bowls but you are welcome to bring your own if you like! We will administer medications as needed, but please let us know about any conditions before bringing in a dog on medication.

What kind of dogs will my dog play with?

We separate dogs according to size and temperament. We determine which play room to place a dog based on things like, age, breed, toy preference, and shyness or boldness. This means that you will see some of our older calmer dogs napping on the smaller dog side and occasionally some small dogs playing fetch with the big dogs.

Will you crate my dog?

Not unless we have to. We like to give our dogs as much free play time as possible so crates are only used if a dog is very tired and needs a nap or if they are overly excited and need to relax for a few minutes.

How do I know my dog will make friends and get along with the other dogs?

There is really no way to know if your dog will like the other dogs at daycare without trying. Not all dogs like each other but we help dogs find friends by placing them in groups with similar tempered dogs or even sometimes recommending days when we know a best friend will be in. We always try to make your dog’s first day as stress-free as possible so that they find friends and have a great time.

Do you discipline dogs? How?

We will break up play that is too rough so that no one gets accidentally injured. Dogs who need to relax or have been misbehaving (playing too aggressively) will be given a time out, usually no longer than 10 minutes at a time or until they have stopped barking. We also use our voices, kibble and spray bottles to distract and call dogs away from practicing bad behaviours.

What is the staff to dog ratio?

On average we have one daycare attendant for every 12 dogs. ​

What age does my dog need to be to attend daycare?

Your dog needs to be 4 months of age to participate in daycare.

Does my dog need to be spayed/neutered?

Your dog does not need to be spayed or neutered to begin attending daycare. However, steadily increasing hormones may result in behaviours which may prevent them from having a fun and safe day with the other dogs. In such cases, we may recommend that they be neutered or spayed before returning to daycare.